Lever-track controlled boom bucket closure



2,405,410 URE I I Sept. 10, 1946. J. H. FITZ GERALD LEVER-TRACK CON TRDLLED BOOM BUCKET C1105 Filed April 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Shea 1 7 WW J. HFiizgerala' 737N175 Sept. 10, 1946.

J. HQFlTZGERALD I LEVER-TRACK CONTROLLED 1306M BUCKET CLOSURE i il ed'April 21, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept, '10, 1946. J. H. Fj'rzGE ALD LEVER-TRACK CONTROLLED BOOM BUCKET CLOSURE v Filed April 21, 1945 s sneets-sneet 5 f Patented Sept. 10, 1946' LEVER-TRACK CONTROLLED BOOM BUCKET CLOSURE James H. Fitzgerald, Westfield, N. J. Application April 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,651 14 Claims. (01. 214959) This invention relates to a conveyor bucket of the type usually mounted for travel on a boom, and to the control of the closurefor such bucket.

An important aim is to provide an exceedingly simple, efficient and durable means of mechanism preferably employing rigid interconnected parts, whereby the bucket may be emptied at'any position of its travel, whether stationary or in motion.

Another prime object is to provide a structure wherein the closure of the bucket is under the control of a rigid element functioning bothas a track for the closure-actuating means of the bucket and also as a lever for such means to effeet the opening and shutting movement of the closure of, the bucket. c 1 g Another object is to provide the rigid member or element as an addition which may be journaled or pivoted on the boom preferably longitudinally thereof and compactly with respect thereto. I

A further object is to provide a structure wherein means moves along and is actuated by the rigid element forming a track and lever, and which is in effect a universal connection with linkage in turn operatively connected with the closure means of the bucket.

Still further, a prime object is to provide for a pivoted closure of a bucket, a lever pivoted to the bucket and operatively connected to the closure and in turn adapted for actuation through thelinkage universally connected to the lever and also connected slidably to the aforesaid rigid element functioning as a track and lever.

Various additional objects and advantages will in part be pointed out and otherwise become apparent from a consideration of the description following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment by way of example.

In said drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the different views,

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the invention in connection with a conventional boom;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken through the boom and the mounting of the bucket thereon, with actuating parts of the latter in closure-opening position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6, of Fig. 2; p g

Fig. .7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2

Fig. 81 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of the boom and rigid track lever element carried thereby; and r Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9- 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring specifically to the drawings, H] designates a support or boom which is to be taken as generic of the type on which a bucket H is mounted for longitudinal travel in opposite directions, and which bucket is adapted to convey concrete or any other desired material, the boom, for instance, being pivoted or mounted to swing at the right-hand end thereof as on a horizontal axis or of the type wherein the boom moves in parallelism to the ground. One specific example is that of a paving machine or other construction of machine wherein element It is a swing boom. This boom specifically constitutes'no part of my invention, nor does the particular mounting .of the bucket H thereon, yet to make the closure clear, it will be noted that the boom consists of two channel beams l2 vertically disposed with their flanges extending outwardly and with the lower flanges forming tracks for wheels or rollers l3 journalled on stubeshafts i l at the upper portion of bucket ll. Bucket II is shown as of the type adapted to be filled with concrete or other material through the top, and to discharge it through a bottom opening normally shut by any suitable closure means I2, that shown by way of example being a plate or flap l3 pivoted in place at M for movement from the full line or closed position in Fig. 2 to the dotted line or open position in the same figure.

In carrying ou'tmy invention, 1 provide an elongated rigid element l5 arranged parallel to one of the beams l2, and, for instance, located between the beams. This rigid element it may be of any desired cross-sectional shape, but is shown as of inverted T-shape and as constituting a track for a slidable shoe 16. It also functions as a lever for moving such shoe 90 from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, so as through the mechanism to be described, to move the closure means I2 from and to the shut and open positiohs. To the latter end, said element l5 has trunnions on stub-shafts l1 rigidly attached to opposite ends thereof, and journaled in bearings l8 welded or otherwise fastened against the adjacent vertical wall of associated beam l2. The axis of movement of rigid element I5 is thus parallel to the boom lil. When desired, in order to prevent sagging of the rigid element IE, it may have one or more stub-shafts l9 fastened thereto on opposite sides of a cut-out 20, enabling journaling of such stub-shaft or shafts on bearing means 2| secured to the same beam l2 as the bearings [8 in a like manner.

Shoe or slide [5 and the rigid element l5 may be interconnected in any suitable manner. For

3 instance, shoe 16 may be generally of C-shape to provide inwardly extending flanges 22 in overlapping relation to the base flanges 23 of the rigid element i5.

A rock shaft 24 is journaled transversely across the bucket II, in suitable bearings 25 secured to the bucket. Pivoted at 26 to the slide or shoe I6 is a, link or rod 21 which is pivoted by a, pin 28 to a block 29 in turn pivoted at 30 to cranks 3! extending rigidly from the rock-shaft 24. It will be realized that the axes of the pivots 28 and 30 are at right-angles to each other, and we have thus provided in effect a universal joint so that the link or rod 2'! may move to the right and left to and from the positions of Figs. 3 and l, when the rigid element I isactuated as a lever from the axes of stub-shafts I! and I9.

Said rock-shaft 24 at each end has a crank 32 keyed thereon which is connected through linkage 33 to the closure l3. Specifically each linkage 33 may consist of sections 34 and 35, pivotally connected together at 36, with section 34 pivotally connected at 3'! to the adjacent crank 32, and with section 35 slidable through the opening of a guide bracket 38, on the bucket, below which it is pivotally connected at 39 to closure It.

Any suitable prime mover or actuator may be employed to operate the rigid element l5 as a lever. This means as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to advantage, may be a hydraulic cylinder 49, but the showing thereof, however, is to be taken as suggestive only since any othertype of actuator or prime mover may be employed. As the construction and actuationof a hydraulic cylinder device such as 40 is well known, details are omitted. The cylinder proper, however, shown at M is pivotally suspended at 42 from an inverted U-shaped support 43 fastened to and rising from the beams 12 constituting the boom. Theslidable piston rod of the device 46 as shown at 44, is pivo-tally connected at 45 to a crank 46 rigid with one of the trunnions or short shafts ll. In this connection it is to be understood that the actuator 40 need not be positioned and located as shown, but may be positioned wherever desired and operatively connected to the element H5 at any preferred location.

In the operation of the device, the bucket H is free to slide on the boom ID in the usual manner, in either direction, usually being poweroperated. At the same time, the actuating mechanism for the c1osure'l3' has slidable connection With the element or track l5 by the employment of the shoe I6. As a result, the closure l2 may be opened, regulated and closed in any position of the bucket with respect to the boom I 0, and the flow of material in transit may at all times be regulated, regardless of whether the bucket is stationary or in motion. Prime mover 40 may be operated either by retraction or extension of the piston rod 44. In the example illustrated, when the piston rod 44 is projected or extended as in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, for instance, the flanges of rigid element or track l5 are lowermost and horizontal and closure I3 is closed. In order to actuate the closure l3 to move it to the open position suggested by the dotted lines in Fig. 9, prime mover or actuator 40 is operated to retract the piston rod 44, thereby raising crank 46 and swinging the track l5 in an arc of a circle, for instance approximately ninety degrees (90) in the specific instance given, on the axes of the stub-shafts I1 and I9 to the position shown in Fig. 4. As a result, rod or link 21 is raised, par- 'is operated to retract the piston-rod 4t and thereby move the parts oppositely to the movements specifically traced.

Shoe l6 may optionally be equipped with rollers to engage and travelon track I5 for smoother operation.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance the track l5 may be suspended from both beams H. as in the modification of Figs. 8 and 9. In this form plates 50 bridge the beams l2 being welded to angles 5| in turn welded to beams l2, or fastened in place in any other suitable manner. By means of stub shafts or trunnions 52, track i5 is pivoted to plates 56]. A shoe Hi correspondsto shoe l8, carrying rollers 53, if desired, journalled on shafts 54 carried by shoe I6 and arranged to travel n flanges 23. Otherwise, the reference characters apply as in the first form and the operation isthe same.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom, an operating means for'said closure means interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member in an arcuate path normal to the longitudinal axis of the boom to control the position of said closure means; V

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member pivoted on the boom, an operating means for said closure means interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means. I

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member pivoted on the boom on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom, operating means for said closure means interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom, said track member having trunnions journalling the same on the boom, an actuator eccentrically connected to the track member, an operating means for said closure means interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member,, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom, said track member having trunnions journaling the same on the boom, an actuator eccentrically connected to one of said trunnionsan operating means for said closure means interen gaged with and movably mounted by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

6; Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom, operating means for said closure means having a shoe interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means. K

7. Apparatus of the a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted class described comprising thereon, said buck thaving anoutlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member pivoted on the boom, an operatingmeans for said closure means comprising linkage slidably interengaged with the track member, a rock shaft on the bucket, an approximately universal joint connection between the rock shaft and linkage, an operative connection from the rockshaft to the closure means and actuating mechanism to move said track member asa lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

12. Apparatus of the class described comprising aboom, a conveyor bucket slidably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for said outlet, an elongated rigid track member pivotedon the boom on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter, said track member having an angular flange, linkage slidably interengaged with said track member at said flange, a rock shaft journaled on the bucket,

thereon, saidbucket having an, outlet, closure means forthe outlet, a track member pivoted on the boom, an operating means for said closure means having a shoe intereng'aged with and movably mounted-by the track member, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom'to control theposition of said'closure means.

,8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom, an operating means for said closure means 7,

having a shoe interengaged with and 'movably mounted by the track member, a rock shaft on the bucket operatively connected to said hoe and to said closure means, and actuating mechanism to move said track member relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

9, Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member pivoted on the boom, an operating meansfor-said closure means having a shoe interengaged with and movably mounted by the track member, a rock shaft on the bucket operatively connected to said shoe and to said closure means, and actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever relatively to the boom to control the position of said closure means.

10. Apparatus of the class described compris-' ing a boom, a conveyor bucket movably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for the outlet, a track member on the boom,

a block ecoentrically pivoted to the rock shaft, said linkage being pivoted to said block on a different axis from the pivotal axis of said block, means to control the position of the closure means having crank connection with said rock shaft, and actuating mechanism to move said track member asa lever to control the position of said closure means. 7 V

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket slidably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for said outlet, an elongated rigid track 7 member pivoted on the boom on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter, said track member having an angular flange, linkage slidably interengaged with said track member at said flange, a rock shaft journaled on the bucket, a block eccentrically pivoted to the rock shaft,

an operating means for said closure means com- V prising linkag slidably interengaged with the track member, a rock shaft on the bucket, an

approximately universal joint connection besaid linkage being pivoted to said block on a different axis from the pivotal axis of said block, means to control the position of the closure means having crank connection with said rock shaft, actuating mechanism to move said track member as a lever to control the position of said closure means comprising a crank connected to the track member, and an actuator having relatively slidable parts to move the last-mentioned crank.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a boom, a conveyor bucket slidably mounted thereon, said bucket having an outlet, closure means for said outlet, an elongated rigid track member pivoted on the boom on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter, said track member having an angular flange, linkage slidably interengaged with said track member at said flange, a rock shaft journaled on the bucket, a block eccentrically pivoted tothe rock shaft, said linkage being pivoted to said block on a different axis from the pivotal axis of said spaced beams, said track member being located between the beams, a support on the beams, a cylinder pivotally suspended from the support, a rod slidably mounted by the cylinder, and a crank connection between the rod and one of said trunnions.

JAMES H. FITZGERALD. 

